Top-ranked Auburn has climbed a double village in the upcoming Southeastern Conference tournament and stands a victory away from managing at least part of SEC’s regular season crown.
But that’s not the only price of great importance when the Tigers fight Kentucky on Saturday afternoon in Lexington, KY.
Auburn (26-2, 14-1 sec) has put his view of winning at Kentucky for just the third time in program history. The tigers have lost 20 consecutive visits to Lexington since he noted a 53-52 upset by the then. 1 Kentucky on January 9, 1988.
Overall, Tigers is 2-51 in Lexington, with the second victory that came in 1983.
“The reason we have not won there is because Kentucky has historically been the best team in the league,” said Auburn coach Bruce Pearl, who is 0-6 in Lexington during his 11 seasons.
“And historically, we have not been one of the best teams in the league for a long time. But we are trying to put a tooth in it right now.”
Auburn has won its last five matches and has a fantastic 7-1 record on the road. Even hanging at a distance is the school record of 30 wins, which was set in 2018-19 when the tigers eventually lost to Virginia in Final Four.
But first it is to beat Kentucky and manage part of the regular seasonal crown.
“I would say that I am proud of this team and this staff for all the work we have put in,” said Star Center Johni Broome, National Player of the Year. “It finally shows a little. Job is not done.
“It would be good to do it on Kentucky. It is obvious that they are a historical program.”
Broome leads Auburn in points (18.8 points per match), rebounding (11.0) and blocked shots (a total of 66). Chad Baker-Mazara is ranked second in points at 12.7 per match and has a team best 33 steal.
Kentucky (19-9, 8-7) has won four of his last six matches and shares seventh in Sec with Ole Miss. Wildcats are 14-2 at home.
Kentucky comes from a solid 83-82 road victory over Oklahoma where Otega Oweh beat the winning shot with 6.4 seconds left.
Oweh scored Wildcat’s last 18 points and finished with a career high 28 points against his former team.
“I mean, it’s a great feeling to come to your old space, get a win,” Oweh said. “As a basketball player, it’s just cool to go in there, to have it.”
The first year Kentucky coach Mark Pope was proud to see his team’s elasticity.
“I think our guys caught or had an experience that they will call back when we get into this, in a very similar game,” Pope said. “And so I love it. I love we have it in my pocket.”
Wildcats Point Guard Lamont Butler (Axel) returned from an absence of three games and had seven points and six assists in 20 minutes at Oklahoma before they go out.
Jaxson Robinson (wrist) returned from a four-game absence and had seven points in the first half before he was forced to sit outside during the second half when the wrist flared up.
Oweh leads Kentucky with an average of 16.1 points. Robinson is second in points (13.0) and 3-points (62), while Butler is third in points (12.3) and leads Wildcats in 4.7 assists per match.
Koby Brea joins Wildcats with 71 Treys.
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